.:There Will Be No White Flag:.

[harbors_madness]

She broke free of the planet's gravity with minimal effort, and searched for the Enterprise's signature. Carefully she positioned herself, waiting for the Enterprise's next sweep across, and then came up so she was within firing distance. With every bit of her power focused on weaponry and shielding, it had not taken long to bring them back up to

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[harbors_madness]

It was not something she wanted to do, as there was more that she could learn from the other ship. She also calculated that the Enterprise would understand what she had to do. The Narada believed the Enterprise would have done no less for her own crew.

When it was neither Captain Kirk nor the Spock she knew well that replied, but the younger Spock that had acted in a hostile way towards her, she calculated options. Captain Kirk had seemed very in charge, ready to answer, and his lack of response but instead the younger Spock all went into careful calculations about the less than simple answer of why.

If that was to be his answer, so be it. Her shields were already set to their full strength in preparation. The beam that struck the Enterprise was not a full shot, but only a streak across her shields, directed on purpose.

Bring all those that would keep me from my crew. This-self will destroy them as this-self has before. Return them immediately.

She had failed them. She would not fail them again. Her form meant nothing in fail of their safety.

[cso_spock]

The ship rocked from the blow, among other things.

You have forgotten the ways of Surak.

He hadn't. But he wouldn't do as Surak had done, getting caught in the struggle and dying before he could see his desires fulfilled. He wasn't going to be an ideologue, the ultimate Vulcan role model, no matter what others thought he should be among these humans.

Spock was only half, after all, and now a captain among humans. Emotions and passions turned in impatient circles right below a thin layer of ice.

"If you harm the Enterprise," Spock started, the self-challenge already beginning to coalesce in his mind. "You risk destroying them as well. They will be safer under the condition of your ceasefire."

[harbors_madness]

Did he believe that she had not calculated such a factor? To a lesser creature, it would have been an insult. She listed it instead under a growing set of knowledge about the younger Spock.

This-self has no desire to deal with you who has no logic, only anger. You are not the Spock this-self will deal with.

Her next shot came close, leaving a streak of blackness behind on the otherwise pristine surface of the ship.

[cso_spock]

He didn't want to give this ship back to Jim in pieces, though the situation was approaching this possibility with every passing second.

"I have more logic than you, a machine, if I am the one considering your words outside of my own anger and you are the one dismissing me by the unalterable fact of my identity." Including an epithet that was, in his opinion, incorrect. That aside, he was already adjusting the controls on chair console for a ship-wide brodcast to initiate. His counterpart could not have gotten far.

[harbors_madness]

You dismissed small-self within your recreational room. This-self will speak with Captain Kirk, or Spock alone. Five minutes, or this-self will take further action.

[cso_spock]

Of course he had dismissed her. The situation had been ridiculous, an enemy ship wandering around and accessing various terminals, learning the internal layout of (at the time) his ship. Had she expected a fruit basket, a welcome mat, a hug? Did she further expect an unreasonable friendly gesture here?

He switched the control on the arm rest so that his conversation with the Narada was muted and he could address the nearby decks. "Spock, older and temporarily female," He compartmentalized and secured away his own pride. "Please return to the bridge."

[sehlatbear]

She was almost to the quarters she shared with her mates, calling to them through the bond. And then the voice of her younger counterpart.

Spock paused, considered. Almost proceeded along her original path before turning and returning.

The doors to the bridge slid open to her.

"You requested my presence?"

Her voice was smooth, as though she had not just left after an angry dismissal.

[cso_spock]

Spock turned the chair slightly, forcing himself to at least look at her. "The Narada is illogical. It requests to speak with you alone, and otherwise refuses to consider my words because of past grievances." Ridiculous, unreasonable past grievances. A child indeed.

He looked to the viewscreen, and then back to his counterpart. "Will you speak with it?"

[sehlatbear]

No respect for life. It was obvious.

Still, her face remained impassive. Spock nodded to the communications officer.

"Spock to Narada."

[harbors_madness]

This was not Spock. Who was this female speaking to her?

This-self will not accept a substitute.

[sehlatbear]

"This is not a substitute. A side-effect of the beam-out that transported myself and the other organics from the planet to this ship. The others are the same."

[harbors_madness]

There was silence, before the Narada stated, Prove your words. With the Enterprise's shields up, scanning her would be impossible.

[original_fine]

He'd heard Spock in his head, but the message had been incomplete. There was the sense of homecoming but then nothing. Jim might have responded, but better, he thought, to see if he could locate Spock himself, using the techniques he'd been working on.

It was surprisingly easy, once he closed his eyes, to hone in on that feeling of Spock and follow it. Opening his eyes, of course, for the actual following, he trusted himself as he'd long ago learned to trust other instincts and made his way to the bridge. Slightly slower, perhaps, than he might have otherwise, but he made it there.

And only then did he allow himself to consider what that might mean. Spock and... Spock stood, stiff and the younger one agitated, for a Vulcan. Jim glanced between them.

Spock? What's happened?

[sehlatbear]

"It is logical to request confirmation of my identity. However, I am limited by distance; I cannot offer a mental communication that you might positively identify me."

Spock considered, and used the moment to acknowledge Jim's arrival.

She has objected to the imprisionment of her organics - and to my counterpart.

"You sent your manifestation to my quarters both because you wished healing for your captain and because you trusted that I would offer it to the best of my capability. I made you no promises."

[original_fine]

Frowning, instantly in battle mode, Jim moved to Spock's side. It was the most natural thing in the world to do so, to step in and ascertain the situation, whether or not the acting captain approved of his presence or not. He didn't care--it was an emergency, and a wrong step here meant destruction. For one, if not all.

[harbors_madness]

The Enterprise was rocked again by another blast. The Narada could do no less for her crew.

You made no promises, nor did this-self. This-self will not rest until Nero and Ayel have been returned.